Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Posted in Adults on Feb 10, 2023

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✍️ 25 stories

“Bottled Up” by Laurel Hanson

Submitted to Contest #185

First, everyone was needling me to figure out what the jars were for, and now I’m being written up because of them. I sit in the HR office with the HR lady, the charge nurse, and my boss, Mrs. Stevens, who’s the head of custodial services. Everything is done by committee at the retirement community where I work in the assisted living wing, so it’s going to take a committee to decide to fire me. Mrs. Stevens has a face like a billboard, advertising disapproval. She is not about to have the reputation of her cleaning staff sullied by the l...

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“The Scrolls of Garguana” by C.B. Chribby

Submitted to Contest #185

With one fell, destructive swoop, all fifteen thousand, nine-hundred and twenty-three books were destroyed. The Brigadier’s Bounty, the galleon that had been used to store and transport the arcane texts from isle city to isle city crashed into the water under the weight of the Nautilus Leviathan’s gargantuan tendrils. It was all Elsbeth could do to manage her way through the thrashing waters into the remains of a lifeboat. Just as the fate of the galleon, the lifeboat was smashed in fragments, leaving only vaguely artificial pieces o...

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“What, Me Worry?” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #185

What, Me Worry?We’ve all experienced it, that terrifying, heart-stopping, pit in the stomach moment when you realize all is not well in the universe- your car isn’t where you thought you parked it, a valuable item rattles around in the sink for agonizing moments before it disappears down the drain, an empty pocket where your wallet should be. Henry’s traumatic moment hit him like an earthquake. He was stunned, dazed, shaken, and he would soon undertake the long, painful journey through the Five Stages of Grief.“Honey, I’m home!”After twenty-...

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“Broken Hearts and Baronets” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #185

Henry Davenport was broke. He’d frittered away most of the fortune his father had left him – wine, women and cards were expensive hobbies – and was down to his last few hundreds. “You need a rich wife, Harry,” Josiah remarked as they cantered through the forest one fine autumn afternoon. “A girl with enough money to keep you in the manner to which you’re accustomed.” Henry nudged Lady’s reins gently. The mare was spirited, but he managed to let her know who was in charge. Women were a lot like horses: once you’d broken them in, you could e...

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“Last of the Free Djinn” by Andree Koehler

Submitted to Contest #185

The messenger unwrapped the mirror scroll and held it so Geordanna and Jilissi could look into it. They watched as Esto’s jar fell to alabaster dust. Geordanna’s tears sounded like breaking crystal as they landed on the table. ‘You do know what this means,’ she said. It was a statement, implying she already knew what Jilissi’s answer would be. ‘Your eminences,’ the messenger said to the two. ‘Your presence is required in Gladstead. Jilissi held her sister’s hand. ‘We don’t know that the ancient prophesy is true.’ She loved Jilissi’s enth...

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“Dear to My Heart” by Deni Bee

Submitted to Contest #185

Some references to war and its atrocities. Papa was a university professor before the war— before we were forced to build a bomb shelter in the woods behind our home— before that dark day, when we were forced to use it to hide from those who said they were there to protect us. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ &nbsp...

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“An Old Woman's Dilemma” by Mustang Patty

Submitted to Contest #185

Her head was spinning. How could her sons have done this? Was it because they thought she was dying? Willamena felt every bit of her sixty-nine-year-old body, but the little girl inside was hurting. Or was it rage? Memories of her recent journey to the hospital weren’t clear, but she did remember her Tuesday morning. But according to the nurse who came in to adjust her IV, it was now Friday. But though she remembered Tuesday, February 11th, it was now Friday, March 4th. The pictures on her phone made her cry. Not just a few tears fall...

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“The Collection of my Youth” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #185

I took my weekly quarter allowance to Isaac’s Grocery on Saturday morning and grabbed a pop, chips, and chocolate bar and put them on the counter. Mr. Isaac’s started punching them into the cash register. Then I saw the comic rack. I had never seen a comic rack before. Isaac’s never had a comic rack before. I left the counter and went and spun the rack. There was the Hulk, bursting green with The Leader’s elongated head looming over him, and there was The Red Skull holding a glass cube that Captain America was trapped insi...

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“A Thimble of Murder” by Miriam Culy

Submitted to Contest #185

Layla shoved her hands deep into her duffle coat pockets, as far away from the biting cold of the February wind as she could get them. The doughnut stand’s enticing waft of frying sugar could not overpower the burning embers that haunted her nostrils, nor could the music in her earphones drown out the crackle of the flames as they consumed each beloved possession. She could still see the empty ashtray of a room that had once been her pride and joy. Shaking her head, she glanced at her surroundings, the ones around her and not in her head, an...

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“My Long-Delayed Wedding” by Francois Kosie

Submitted to Contest #185

I feel lucky to be still standing by the lake across from where my beloved lives. People are enjoying the outdoor reception area with its floors of smooth mirror-like stone, and the eye is drawn to a wide panorama dotted with sailboats. As it starts to get dark, the lights discreetly turn on. All around, fancily dressed people are enjoying cocktails, laughing at each other’s jokes, and closing business deals. They try to tell me about their positions in commodities or the tech companies they've started, but I feel so happy I can only listen ...

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“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #185

I wouldn’t say murder per se was a terrible thing.I mean, it all depends on the motive, doesn’t it?And if we’re being honest, the recipient plays a part in it too!For example, the people who tried to murder Hitler. We didn't sit back and judge them with negative condemnation. We all went, darn it! Close but not quite over the line. Try a bit harder next time.Honestly, you can be the nicest person, who’s kind, donates to charities and looks after stray puppies. Then one day, you’re simply pushed over your line of what you will and won’t put u...

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“For the Love of Barry” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #185

Part of the coin collection was my grandfather’s, part was my father’s, and a decent amount of it was mine. It’s gone, all gone. How can you replace a collection like that? Some of those pieces were rare and valuable, like the 1909s Indian head penny in mint condition worth 2,250 dollars. And that is just one of the rare coins I had. My father got me started collecting coins when I was about ten. It has been one of my greatest pleasures, and I’m very proud that the collection spanned three generations. ...

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“Chump Change” by Dan Taylor

Submitted to Contest #185

Wednesday morning, Kevin and Kent were slow as usual getting ready for the bus. I couldn’t get them to turn off the ‘Mr. Bill Show.” Kent was reading the school closings, shouting really loud, “Buncombe County, Henderson County, Transylvania Counties.” Then he’d shout, “Where are those?” How the heck do I know? We just moved here. I’d shout, “I think Western North Carolina,” like I did last time it was a little cold out. All I knew was their school wasn’t canceled or delayed. I finally got them to turn off the TV, and then Kevin says he ...

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“By Any Other Name” by Jessica Argyle

Submitted to Contest #185

“So why did you ask me to come to Sawaki,” Rose asked, knowing he had tried to discourage her from coming. But she also knew he was too much of a coward to admit it out loud. “You were warned when you married me, Rose, that this is a man’s world,” he said, making a sweeping gesture that took in their luxurious hut and steaming windows, choked with vines and the impenetrable dark jungle beyond. James Lobb moved his considerable nose back to his work and the pile of charts and ledgers. He was twenty-three years her senior and fi...

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“Best Served Cold” by Douglas Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #185

“Two million is a large claim. You do realize the insurance company will be investigating?” “Friggin Censors. No way they would allow my collection to debut. It was nearly fully edited into a montage composed to lay bare their conspiracy. Secrets long lost would have resurfaced. The Censors could not allow that. I suppose I closed my eyes to my darkest fear.” “So you expect arson?” “KABOOM. Yes, I should have seen it coming. I cringe as I remember black-and-white ghosts dancing in those white-yellow-orange flames. The celluloid f...

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Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 25 stories

“Bottled Up” by Laurel Hanson

“The Scrolls of Garguana” by C.B. Chribby

“What, Me Worry?” by Murray Burns

“Broken Hearts and Baronets” by Jane Andrews

“Last of the Free Djinn” by Andree Koehler

“Dear to My Heart” by Deni Bee

“An Old Woman's Dilemma” by Mustang Patty

“The Collection of my Youth” by David B Fraser

“A Thimble of Murder” by Miriam Culy

“My Long-Delayed Wedding” by Francois Kosie

“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by Kelly Sibley

“For the Love of Barry” by Ralph Aldrich

“Chump Change” by Dan Taylor

“By Any Other Name” by Jessica Argyle

“Best Served Cold” by Douglas Hamilton

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Start a story with someone saying, “It’s mine, and you can’t have it!”

Write about a dragon who doesn’t know what to do with their hoard anymore.

Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Contest #185

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

138

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: